Dental Laboratory Technology Certificate

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The Only Dental Lab Technology Associate Degree in the DC Metro Area!


The only Dental Laboratory Technology Associate Degree in the DC Metro Area—plus a Certificate option for career-focused training. Build hands-on skills in crowns, bridges, dentures, CAD/CAM, 3D printing, and more.




Excellent facility: Renovated Spacious Lecture Rooms and Laboratory with Newly Purchased Equipment!


This allied dental degree at Columbia College trains students to design and construct dental prostheses, including crowns, bridges, dentures, partials, and orthodontic appliances, based on dentists’ prescriptions. Through lab‑based and classroom instruction, students develop the advanced technical such as 3D printing and CAD/CAM and artistic skills required for modern dental laboratory work. 





Learn from Experienced Dental Laboratory Professionals 


Train with qualified instructors who bring practical dental laboratory knowledge and real-world industry experience to every class.


Meet Our Instructor, Dr. Elbanna


Latifa Elbanna brings more than 20 years of clinical and academic experience in prosthodontics, Crown & Bridge, CAD/CAM technology, cosmetic dentistry, and implantology. With a PhD in Clinical Dentistry and extensive experience training junior dentists and managing complex restorative cases, she helps students build the technical precision and digital workflow knowledge needed in today’s dental laboratory field.


Curriculum Course Lists 

Code
Core Requirements
Credits
Clock Hours
DLT/C101
Dental Morphology
6
60
DLT/C102
Dental Morphology Lab
6
140
DLT/C151
Crowns and Bridges I
6
60
DLT/C152
Crowns and Bridges Lab I
6
140
DLT/C153
Crowns and Bridges II
6
60
DLT/C154
Crowns and Bridges Lab II
6
140
DLT/C201
Dental Ceramics I
6
60
DLT/C202
Dental Ceramics Lab I
6
140
DLT/C203
Dental Ceramics II
2
40
DLT/C204
Dental Ceramics Lab II
6
160
DLT/C251
Complete Denture
2
40*
DLT/C252
Complete Denture Lab
5*
160*
DLT/C270
Career Development
5*
160*
DLT/C301
CAD/CAM I
2
40*
DLT/C302
CAD/CAM Lab I
6
160*
DLT/C303
CAD/CAM II
2
40*
DLT/C304
CAD/CAM Lab II
6
160*
  • *Students must select at least one course from the fields of Humanities, Natural Science/Applied Sciences, Mathematics and Behavioral Sciences
  • Certificate - Choose 2 out of DLTC251/252, DLTC301/302, DLTC303/304, or choose 1 out of DLTC251, DLTC301 or DLTC303 with DLTC270

Federal Student Aid Notice


Federal Pell Grants are available to eligible undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need. Eligibility and estimated award amounts are determined based on information provided on the FAFSA®. Final financial aid offers are determined by the school. To apply or learn more, visit StudentAid.gov.



VETERANS & MILITARY STUDENTS


Eligible veterans, service members, and qualified family members may be able to use VA education benefits for this approved program.



Meet Our Current Student, Paula

Advances in digital dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and restorative treatments have increased demand for high‑quality crowns, bridges, dentures, and orthodontic appliances, creating ongoing need for skilled dental laboratory technicians. Although national employment projections for dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians show little overall growth, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports thousands of job openings each year as experienced technicians retire or move into other roles, and employers continue to replace and upgrade staff. 

Technicians with formal training and strong hands‑on skills typically have better job prospects and can advance into senior technician, lead technician, department supervisor, or dental laboratory manager positions. For many graduates, this combination of technical specialization, advancement potential, and the ability to eventually manage or own a lab makes dental laboratory technology a stable and rewarding career path.

Educational Outcomes/Settings

Graduates in Dental Laboratory Technology Certificate program develop the technical and artistic skills required to work as dental laboratory technicians in commercial labs, private dental practices, hospitals, and dental schools in the Washington, DC metropolitan area and Northern Virginia with experience may go on to manage their own laboratories, supervise departments, or take on leadership roles as dental lab managers or department heads.

The program trains students to fabricate a full range of dental prostheses—including crowns, bridges, dentures, partials, and orthodontic appliances—using modern materials, equipment, and digital lab technologies.

Opportunities in Virginia

  • Approximately 500 dental labs in Virginia seek skilled dental laboratory technicians and related specialists.

Median Salary

$63,460

per year

$30.51

per hour

Identification

  • •Passport
  • •Driver's License
  • •State-issued ID

Education History

  • •Diploma/school transcript (at least high school)
  • •General Equivalency Diploma (GED)
  • •DD-214 form

Application Fee

Domestic$100

International Applicants

This program is currently unavailable for international students

Non-Native English Speakers

CaMLA (Cambridge Michigan Language Assessments) English Test to define the English level.

How to ApplyAdmissions

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